DINA

My name is Dina.

I grew up in the town of Genyem, a small town far from the city. My later education was in the city where I trained to be a nurse. I still cannot get work as a nurse because of government restrictions I cannot fulfil. 

I have a husband, Ernes, a son, Daniel, and a little girl, Terrisya. Most of our income is from a small kiosk I now run from our home. My son has just begun primary school but his real dream is to “go to Astlalia and study in grandmother’s school.” I hope he can study at one of grandmother’s courses here.

Every Friday I gather some local children for an hour or so and teach them the Word of God, sing, provide snacks and do activities. I just do this in my own house, where my sister helps, along with a friend of mine. My desire is to do activities with them that will shape their characters to become like Jesus and to then become salt in their own families. Our group name is: ‘Breakthrough Kids’. I would like to reach more children. Maybe I can help Mum in one of her courses to teach the true Word of God and help them learn English as well as have a good level of education that will give them a life that impacts others. 

Dina update: Dina has continued to encourage and direct her own children and other children well. Her desire is still to bring them close to Jesus. With the help of a couple of volunteer sponsors, she has been building a room for her children’s ministry and this is moving along very well. It is even possible that one day we could run a course there.

She always has a positive attitude and normally doesn’t let the negatives get her down. She has also committed to helping teacher Florence at the Harapan course one day a week, which enables Terri to have more planning and resting time at home. It is very appreciated.

DARSON

My name is Darson.

I am from the interior of Papua, Indonesia. I was sent to Jayapura when I started secondary school so I could get a good education, and lived in an orphanage from that time for 6 years. The orphanage was good. It provided shelter and food and I could attend school in the city, even though at times I had to find work to pay for my school fees that no-one else could provide. In that environment I also won first place in a Japanese language competition. This provided funding and freedom to study out of school hours, a freedom not often given. I love God and always felt He was near, but I was away from my family and often felt far from them, neither could I visit them as it was too far and too expensive to go there.

I went to university and studied Japanese, which I loved, but to this day have not yet graduated due to lack of funding and support. My English is very basic, though I would love to improve it. 

I want to see my people succeed in life and not get lost along the way as I see happen to so many and almost happened to me. The standard of education is not always good in Papua, especially compared to other provinces and the capital Jakarta. Papuans also know very little English and because of this are often looked down on. We even lack teachers with a good quality of education. 

Maybe I can help Mum establish courses in my area that will have a high education standard as well as teach English. Though I have a university degree I still have no certificate and I am always looking for work or ideas to make money. Maybe I have enough English to help in her courses

Darson update: Darson is now travelling between highlands where his village is, and the Jayapura area, helping his leaders at times organising governmental issues, and also trying to sort out exactly what work he should be doing. He is on Terri’s committee in Papua to help organise courses, especially in his area … he hopes.

Thomas

My name is Thomas.

I was sent from the highlands of Wamena to live at the Rainbow Orphanage in Jayapura in Papua when I was in Junior Secondary School. My father had already died and my mother has now also passed away.

I have always seen education as important and worked hard at school. I was devastated when I didn’t pass Senior Secondary, but I tried again the following year and passed and went on to study Mining at university. I received no financial help for my education from the government and had to rely on a couple of relatives and my western ‘mum’ helping me.

I finished my bachelor’s degree and now am able to get short-term contracts working for a company in remote areas setting up solar power. I had to wait 4 years before I could get this job.

It has been important for me to study English over the years, even though my English is still not good, I was able to visit Australia with Mum and 2 friends and practise my English while I was there. That was a fun experience!

I want my people to be able to get a good education and study more English. I think Mum’s courses will help with this. Some people from my area also really want English courses here so we are looking into it. When mum visited in 2020, I talked with her about our ideas. Now she is back in Papua and we are talking again.

Thomas update: Now Thomas and his wife live with Terri and help her in the house and garden. They moved in before Terri did as quite a few renovations were necessary and much of that work was done by Thomas himself. He has been a great blessing. He is always looking for work contracts and sometimes goes away for 2 months to work. Work is not easy to obtain here for many men.

kezia

My name is Kezia and my husband’s name is Victor.

We are a Christian family and parents of three children. We have been living in Papua for many years. Our first daughter graduated her Primary and Junior High from ACE School here in Papua. She finished her study at the university and now works a good job at another island in Indonesia. We hope she can come home to work as she has a little boy now that we help care for.

Our second child, a boy, also graduated his Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary from the same school. He is now studying to become an airline mechanic at an institution also on another island of Indonesia. And now our youngest son also goes to the same school like his sister and brother. 

The question is ‘Why is it so important for us to send all our three kids to the ACE School?’ It is simply because ACE School has an excellent curriculum that provides students with academics, skill building, reading practice, character and wisdom training and knowledge of God and His Words. It gives students a solid foundation on pursuing their life goals, which our children have been able to do.

Kezia update: Kezia continues to do part-time teaching, help mind her small grandson and assist Victor in pursuits like running the local Compassion centre. She is also very keen to get the second village course going as she and her sister Daawia have created a farm where they will each have a small house and a building that will house the course. If money were no problem it would be started by now, but the two ladies and Terri believe it will be soon. Kezia will be the teacher at that school and Daawia will help. Recently the children from Harapan, first course, had an excursion to the farm, fed the goats, watched butterflies released and ate traditional food. They had a wonderful time. Sometimes things seem to move slowly but then suddenly it all happens! We believe this will be the case here.